Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3iqPAKz8z4

The Daizy Diagnostic Lab
The Albuquerque BioPark has teamed up with the Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Department at the HSC in order to ensure that Daizy, a three-year old Asian Elephant, stays healthy. With funding from the New Mexico BioPark Society, Dr. Michelle Ozbun and her team conduct regular screening for EEHV, elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus, a naturally occurring, devastating strain of herpes virus that has an 80% mortality rate among captive populations. Juvenile elephants are most vulnerable. "It #39;s probably the scariest thing elephant professionals face," explains Rhonda Saiers, Elephant Barn Manager at the Biopark, "By the time we see symptoms, the baby is generally gone within 24 -- 48 hours." As with human herpes, the disease can be latent. Regular testing and working with the Virology Lab at UNM, rather than sending samples away, allows the BioPark to be "one step ahead" with Daizy. Nearly from birth, her training has prepared her to work with the staff so that they can conduct regular blood tests and other health-related check-ups. "There #39;s nothing that I can do if a 3000 lb baby doesn #39;t want to do what I #39;m asking," says Saiers about how Daizy voluntary presents her ear for the needle. Twice a month, blood is drawn from Daizy and transported to the UNM Virology Lab, where a technician purifies the sample to extract the DNA and then performs a quantitative PCR test to see if any EEHV viral DNA is present. "The test is not really very difficult for us to do in the lab ...From:unmhscViews:10 0ratingsTime:03:08More inPets Animals

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The Daizy Diagnostic Lab - Video